Don Wilson – OSJ Principal

My dad was a career Navy pilot, and that meant moving around a lot as a kid, and being pretty much attached to our family. I learned a great deal about the work ethic that went along with being around a military family, and that has been the biggest influence on me through life.

I completed two years of college at Skagit Valley College in western Washington and then I had a job offer. I took it and I’ve been working every day since then. I began my career managing a retail operation for eight years, and my wife’s family owned a restaurant that I got involved with, working seven days a week, often twenty hours a day.

Throughout those years I worked with employees that mostly all were just going nowhere with their finances.  So I got into the idea of helping them, and then just expanded that out. I thought, “Why don’t I help people manage their money and overcome their lack of knowledge for a living?” I obtained my CRPC (Certified Retirement Planning Counselor) designation, and I hold Life series 7, 24, 63 and 65 Securities Registrations.

I have learned that many people with real financial needs and dreams are used to being spoken at. They’re often being told “Listen to me and do what I say.” I think my biggest strength, is listening to my clients and having empathy for their situations. By doing so, one gains a deep insight into each person’s unique situation, and the ability to look outside the normal things to create personalized solutions that fit and are adaptable to their evolving circumstances.

I’m grateful for being a member of the local Rotary club for 27 years. What remains a heartfelt desire to help the community has allowed me to build many contacts with the businesses community in different industries. You get to learn that engineers and lawyers and other professions have different outlooks on how things work, and that you can always learn from somebody.

Working out of Chehalis, I handle the personal finance and business finance needs for a range of small businesses owners and their employees, and a large number of state and local government employees.

I serve individuals and businesses in all areas of financial management, including retirement planning, estate planning*, investment management, insurance planning, and employee and executive benefits. I help clients make the most of benefit plans for small businesses, including IRAs, tax-deferred Saving Incentive Match Plans and Government retirement plans.

Whereas my clients’ personal circumstances often differ, their major concerns include not having enough money in retirement, and this is because people often wait too long before they start looking seriously at retirement provision. Instead of telling them that the best time to start saving for retirement was ten years ago, I like to keep a broad mind so that I can custom-tailor plans that help provide them confidence in retirement.

Since 2011, I have helped WestStar Prosperity Group as an OSJ (Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction) Delegate.

Outside of work I’m married with two kids, (both grown) and five grandkids.

*For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult your legal advisor. Neither Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, nor any of its representatives may give legal advice.

Fun Facts

I’ve played tennis since I was 12 years old. In college I was top ten in the state at one point. I grew up skiing and sailing –and I spent my summer in my sophomore year bringing a 95-foot sailboat from San Diego up to Whidbey Island.

I play bass and lead guitar in a band called Steel Horse and we do a mix of everything from classic rock to country at quite a few weekend gigs and private parties a year.

My grandfather played for the St Louis Browns as a pitcher, which I think are now the Minnesota Twins. I’ve always followed, the Cardinals. So, if it’s not the Seahawks or the Mariners, it’s the Cardinals.

I love history, so later this year, my wife and I are going to France and Amsterdam.

My favorite words of wisdom are from Benjamin Franklin: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”